James Taylor - James Taylor At Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:38
Size: 118.2 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2006/2012
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. Winter Wonderland
[3:40] 2. Go Tell It On The Mountain
[3:52] 3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
[3:03] 4. Jingle Bells
[4:16] 5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
[3:33] 6. River
[2:47] 7. Here Comes The Sun
[3:23] 8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[4:36] 9. Some Children See Him
[3:05] 10. Mon Beau Sapin
[3:51] 11. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
[4:09] 12. Who Comes This Night
[4:10] 13. In The Bleak Midwinter
[3:35] 14. Auld Lang Syne

For the most part, holiday-themed albums are about as memorable as what you had for lunch a month ago. As humans continue to evolve, there's a very good chance that we'll develop some sort of yuletide audio bypass valve that will allow us to filter the three-and-a-half million versions of every Christmas song ever made into one solid rendition that either pleases or displeases us, and can be dealt with accordingly. That said, James Taylor's brilliantly titled James Taylor at Christmas is about as inoffensive a collection of seasonal classics as one could hope for. The legendary singer/songwriter's warm voice is the perfect vessel for "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," and the "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" because it makes absolutely no impression on the listener. [A digital version added two bonus tracks.] ~ James Christopher Monger

Recording information: Capitol Studios (03/07/2008); Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV (03/07/2008); The Barn, Washington, MA (03/07/2008); Capitol Studios (03/2004-04/2004); Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV (03/2004-04/2004); The Barn, Washington, MA (03/2004-04/2004).

James Taylor At Christmas

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Michael Bublé - Live From Las Vegas

Size: 89,3 MB
Time: 38:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Swing Jazz
Art: Front

01. Fly Me To The Moon (2:34)
02. It Had To Be You (2:39)
03. You Make Me Feel So Young (2:24)
04. Let There Be Love (3:07)
05. Sway (3:31)
06. Lady Is A Tramp (3:19)
07. Mack The Knife (3:22)
08. Young At Heart (2:34)
09. Come Fly With Me (2:13)
10. Ain't That A Kick In The Head (2:45)
11. Everybody Loves My Baby (Diga Diga Do) (4:27)
12. Cry Me A River (5:03)

Michael Bubble is THE swing music performer from the UK. NOT to be confused with the young pretender Mr Bublé, Michael Bubble has been in the business of swing music since the mid 1980's and has toured extensively around Europe. Michael had previously released all his music on formats such as CD, Vinyl, and even Cassette (Remember them?), before making his debut on Itunes and other digital sites in July 2011 with the hugely successful album 'Forever, For Now'. He is currently in the process of releasing his follow-up album, and playing dates around the UK.

Live From Las Vegas

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Randy Brecker - The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion

Size: 156,1 MB
Time: 67:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Electric Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Art: Front

01. First Tune Of The Set (7:29)
02. Stellina (7:36)
03. Dipshit (6:03)
04. Merry Go Town (5:13)
05. Slag (6:34)
06. Really In For It (7:45)
07. Elegy For Mike (7:37)
08. On The Rise (5:33)
09. Adina (6:15)
10. R N Bee (7:22)

Though saxophonist Michael Brecker passed away in 2007, his brother, trumpeter Randy Brecker, keeps the jazz-funk fusion of the Brecker Brothers alive with the Brecker Brothers Reunion Band. While not a strict reunion of the original ensemble, the band does feature many of the players who have performed with the Brecker Brothers over the years, such as guitarist Mike Stern, drummer Dave Weckl, and keyboardist George Whitty, as well as new members including Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti (Brecker's wife), and keyboardist Oli Rockberger. The band played several shows beginning in 2011, and in 2013 released this album, which also featured such former Brecker Brothers' associates as guitarists Dean Brown, Adam Rogers, and Mitch Stein, drummer Rodney Holmes, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and saxophonist David Sanborn. ~Review by Matt Collar

The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion

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The Hot Club Of Dublin - Fin Voyage

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 49:32
Size: 113.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:38] 1. Dankerr
[2:54] 2. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
[2:27] 3. Fintan - Waltz
[1:44] 4. Chez Mathieu
[3:23] 5. Music Maestro Please
[1:59] 6. D. G. Swing
[3:24] 7. Over The Rainbow
[2:48] 8. Shine
[4:54] 9. That's All
[2:51] 10. I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
[2:53] 11. Georgia On My Mind
[4:15] 12. New Years Day
[5:04] 13. All Of Me
[3:21] 14. Some Of These Days
[3:49] 15. Fin Voyage

The Hotclub of Dublin consists of three members of the Gilligan Family, John, Fintan and Daniel, along with Russian gypsy violin player Oleg Ponomarev. United by their passion for Hotclub and old swing, this vibrant quartet have developed and expanded on the Hotclub style, to include four part vocal harmonies with hints of eastern gypsy flavour. On their second album Fin Voyage, we find instruments not normally associated with Hotclub, such as clarinet, piano and saxophone. This album is a collection of original tunes with some old standards included. The Hotclub of Dublin is currently playing venues in Ireland and across Europe and are looking forward to playing in Russia in the New Year.

Fin Voyage

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Don Byas - Big City Nights

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:29
Size: 131.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:46] 1. Laura
[2:47] 2. Riffin' And Jivin'
[2:21] 3. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[3:01] 4. Stardust
[2:59] 5. Embraceable You
[2:43] 6. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:09] 7. Stormy Weather
[2:43] 8. Slam-In' Around
[3:05] 9. Harvard Blues
[2:48] 10. Rosetta
[2:49] 11. Blues For Panassie
[3:14] 12. Nancy
[2:55] 13. Body And Soul
[2:57] 14. Annie Laurie
[2:29] 15. I Can't Explain
[3:02] 16. Dark Eyes
[2:59] 17. Three O'clock In The Morning
[2:40] 18. Blue And Sentimental
[3:02] 19. These Foolish Things
[2:50] 20. Humoresque

One of the greatest of all tenor players, Don Byas' decision to move permanently to Europe in 1946 resulted in him being vastly underrated in jazz history books. His knowledge of chords rivalled Coleman Hawkins, and, due to their similarity in tones, Byas can be considered an extension of the elder tenor. He played with many top swing bands, including those of Lionel Hampton (1935), Buck Clayton (1936), Don Redman, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk (1939-1940), and most importantly Count Basie (1941-1943). An advanced swing stylist, Byas' playing looked toward bop. He jammed at Minton's Playhouse in the early '40s, appeared on 52nd Street with Dizzy Gillespie, and performed a pair of stunning duets with bassist Slam Stewart at a 1944 Town Hall concert. After recording extensively during 1945-1946 (often as a leader), Byas went to Europe with Don Redman's band, and (with the exception of a 1970 appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival) never came back to the U.S. He lived in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark; often appeared at festivals; and worked steadily. Whenever American players were touring, they would ask for Byas, who had opportunities to perform with Duke Ellington, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz at the Philharmonic (including a recorded tenor battle with Hawkins and Stan Getz), Art Blakey, and (on a 1968 recording) Ben Webster. Byas also recorded often in the 1950s, but was largely forgotten in the U.S. by the time of his death. ~ bio by Scott Yanow

Big City Nights

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Holly Cole - Night

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 39:46
Size: 91.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. You Only Live Twice
[3:37] 2. Walk Away
[3:09] 3. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
[4:30] 4. You've Got A Secret
[4:03] 5. Viva Las Vegas
[3:25] 6. I Only Have Eyes For You
[3:28] 7. I Thought Of You Again
[3:53] 8. Love Lies
[3:06] 9. Whistling Past The Graveyard
[3:23] 10. If You Go Away
[3:52] 11. If You Could Read My Mind

Internationally acclaimed recording and touring artist Holly Cole returns with NIGHT, her first studio album in over five years. Supported by musicians Cole recognizes as soul mates and companions, NIGHT presents a reunion of the original Holly Cole Trio, featuring pianist Aaron Davis and bassist David Piltch along with co-producer Greg Cohen. The line-up is completed by Davide DiRenzo (drums), Johnny Johnson (horns), Greg Leisz (lap steel), Kevin Breit (guitars), Cyro Baptista (percussion) and others.

In trademark Holly Cole fashion, NIGHT crosses different corners of the musical spectrum from the first focus track, a Bond theme by John Barry (“You Only Live Twice“), to a Mort Shuman classic (“Viva Las Vegas“) to Tom Waits (“Walk Away“, “Whistling Past The Graveyard“), Jaques Brel (“If You Go Away”) and Gordon Lightfoot (“If You Could Read My Mind“). A song by late Sixties/early Seventies Canadian folk-pop duo The Poppy Family has gently found its way into the repertoire (“I Thought Of You Again“). All of this is complimented by an American songwriter/folk classic from the Danny O’Keefe songbook (“Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues“), a riveting version of a Captain Beefheart tune (“Love Lies“), a timeless pop ballad (“I Only Have Eyes For You“) and – a wonderful new Holly Cole original – “You’ve Got A Secret“.

Night

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US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble - 25th Anniversary Concert (Feat. The New York Voices)

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 72:52
Size: 166.8 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[ 3:39] 1. Air Mail Special
[ 6:30] 2. Willow Weep For Me, All Blues
[ 4:27] 3. Oh, Lady, Be Good
[ 5:09] 4. Desafinado
[ 7:36] 5. A Sideward Glance
[ 6:31] 6. Body And Soul
[ 7:59] 7. My Ship
[ 7:38] 8. Summertime
[ 4:09] 9. Star Dust
[14:11] 10. Conspiracy Theory
[ 4:58] 11. Love Makes The World Go Round

This 18-piece ensemble has performed at renowned venues worldwide and is featured here backing the vocal ensemble "New York Voices". The 25th Anniversary Concert album celebrates the bands 25 years of great service to our country. My favorite track is "Air Mail Special", a jazz standard that they perform with the same excellent verve they do all their numbers. Any Jazz lover should check this group out and if you're already a fan, this album is a must have. ~Al McCree/amazon

25th Anniversary Concert

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Anne Walsh - Go

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:31
Size: 119,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:29)  1. Cinnamon & Clove
(4:36)  2. Je Vousem Beacuop
(2:35)  3. Bumble Bee
(4:24)  4. Melanie
(5:12)  5. So In Love
(4:56)  6. South American Getaway
(4:52)  7. Bewitched
(4:57)  8. Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls
(4:33)  9. Go
(3:47) 10. Batucada
(3:42) 11. I'll Wish for You
(4:22) 12. Spring's Unfold

Eclectic yet incredibly accessible with a cool Latin vibe that has the ability to creep into your soul.A conceptualized release that finds critically acclaimed vocalist Anne Walsh doing her own riff on exploring artistic beauty in the fast paced world of the digital download. The follow up to Pretty World which earned a Grammy nomination for the arrangement of "In The Still Of The Night" finds Walsh striking out on a slightly more diverse path and in fine voice.  While an admitted intent to go the more organic route there is the musical dichotomy of rich layered textures that create an ambient tapestry showcasing Walsh's pristine vocals. A common stumbling block for a great many vocalists would be arrangements where the musicians are seemingly an afterthought. Go is a well thought out release with stellar arrangements that highlight a sonic conversation between vocalist and musicians creating a more harmonious approach than what you may hear with some artists. "Je Vousem Beaucoup" is an engaging and somewhat haunting tune hinting at the varied background of Walsh including the slight Broadway feel to this number. "Bumble Bee" is an incredibly playful number with sassy vocals and a gentle swing that adds a subtle pop with delightful scat vocals added for flavor along with the violin solo of Christian Howes. 

The Cole Porter standard "So In Love" smolders with a dynamic tension from shifting meters and arrangements to match. Pianist Thomas Zink compliments the mood with a gorgeous lyrically driven solo. Anne Walsh takes the Rogers & Hart classic "Bewitched" to another level. More than just knocking out a passable cover, Walsh transforms from vocalist to story teller and delivers an intoxicating performance. Reinforcing the brilliant arrangements finds Walsh recreating the "South American Getaway" from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and breathing new life into a forgotten Burt Bacharach number. Adding original vocals to an accepted instrumental jazz classic can be the equivalent of tap dancing in a musical mine field. The original lyrics added to the Wayne Shorter tune "Go" are inventive and keep with the more conceptual nature of this incredibly strong release. Original lyrics, stellar arrangements and a first call list of musicians pushes Go to the top of the heap for vocal releases, even going back to the previous year. Anne Walsh is a fabulous vocal talent with impeccable phrasing and the background to allow herself the freedom to adapt to an eclectic and intoxicating set of tunes not often heard from similar artists. There is a perfect ebb and flow to this release from the beautiful cover art to the last note. The musical stars were in perfect alignment for this virtually flawless release. 5 Stars!   

http://www.criticaljazz.com/2012/02/anne-walsh-go-atozink-music-2012.html

Personnel: Chris Wabich: drums; Brian Bromberg: acoustic bass; Jerry Watts: electric bass; Thomas Zink: piano; Ramone Stagnaro, Larry Koonse, Mitchell Long, Gannin Arnold: guitar; Gary Meek: saxes, flutes, woodwinds; Tiki Pasillas, Chris Wabich: percussion; Anne Walsh, Rogerio Jardim: background voice; Anne Walsh, Johnathan Mack, Jim Graft: Voices "South American Getaway."; Christian Howes: violin solo; Tony Guerrero: trumpet solo; Bill Brendle: accordion; Kathleen Robertson, Cameron Patrick: violins; Darrin McCann: viola; Melissa Hasin: cello.

Go

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Suzanna Smith - Halfway Between Heaven & Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz

Year: 2013

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:21

Size: 139,2 MB

Art: Front

(4:01)  1. Lady Bird / Half Nelson

(4:07)  2. Paper Boat

(4:45)  3. Summer Me, Winter Me

(5:17)  4. The Man That Broke the Dragon's Heart

(4:59)  5. Beautiful Love

(4:28)  6. Planes and Trains

(4:43)  7. Can You Give It Up

(4:55)  8. Comet

(4:43)  9. Monk's Make Believe

(4:13) 10. I Would Give Anything

(4:07) 11. Hooray for Love

(6:00) 12. Alone Together

(3:57) 13. Soy Califa

A debut album by a smart jazz singer with a lithe, lissome sound is always welcome, but when the artist is also a strikingly effective songwriter, a celebration is in order. With the release of "Halfway Between Heaven & Love," Oakland-based Suzanna Smith delivers one of the year's most impressive vocal projects, an intoxicating mix of original tunes and beautifully rendered standards.... More  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11259667.htm

Halfway Between Heaven & Love

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Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Girl Talk

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:33
Size: 88,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Way We Were
(6:14)  2. Girl Talk
(6:40)  3. Gone with the Wind
(5:23)  4. Take the 'A' Train
(4:54)  5. I Love You Porgy
(5:03)  6. What Now My Love
(4:46)  7. Autumn in New York

Girl Talk was Tsuyoshi Yamamoto's sixth leader album released by the Three Blind Mice label in a short span of two years. With a huge hit of Midnight Sugar, the young pianist who was 28 at the time of recording had become one of the most popular jazz pianists in Japan.With bluesy and soulful style influenced by Red Garland and Wynton Kelly, Yamamoto and his trio tackled well-known jazz standards and a popular movie tune ("The Way We Were"). One of the highlights is "Take the 'A' Train" which begins with a free style introduction and moves into a high-speed, high-spirited swing. Following the tradition of TBM, the original album was beautifully recorded and received Swing Journal's Best Engineered Jazz Disc Award in 1976. This special Blu-spec CD reissue perfectly transferred the glorious analog sound to digital. A must-have for jazz lovers and audiophiles!  

http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Featured+Products&ProductID=87

Recorded at Aoi Studio, Tokyo, in December 1975 by Yoshihiko Kannari.

Personnel: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, piano; Isoo Fukui, bass; Tetsujiro Obara, drums

Girl Talk

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Bradley Leighton - Just Doin' Our Thang

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:05
Size: 146,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Sunny
(6:04)  2. Now's The Time
(3:59)  3. Pink Panther Theme
(6:25)  4. Summertime
(6:16)  5. Breezin'
(4:52)  6. Carefree
(5:22)  7. Europa
(6:01)  8. Lazy Summer Days
(5:32)  9. Ain't No Sunshine
(5:29) 10. Deep Sea
(5:22) 11. Easy Morning
(4:46) 12. Speak Low

Just Doin' Our Thang brings me back to the late '60s and early '70s when jazz personalities like Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, and Sergio Mendes were using contemporary pop material and selling records. Jazz music was losing momentum with the competition from the rock revolution and it was not unusual to hear any of the artists on Blue Note, Prestige, and other jazz labels playing Beatles tunes. Flutist Bradley Leighton, from the Pacific Northwest, perhaps has the same idea in mind for his second album. I like the idea of combining his alto flute with an organ trio plus percussion, and the end product is a perfect summertime album. The twelve selections are not entirely pop music covers, but the vibe is upbeat and satisfying. Several of these tunes should be candidates for airplay on smooth jazz radio, including some of the Leighton originals. 35 years ago, everyone was required to sing or play Bobby Hebb's "Sunny," so it now seems like a good way to open this album. The flute provides a perfect counterpoint to the organ funk feel. Likewise, the ubiquitous "Breezin'," which George Benson parlayed into a pop jazz staple during the '80s, is again given a new life by Bob Boss, who delivers some good guitar licks. (Why am I fighting to say "Boss Guitar" here?) For the purists, Leighton and company dig into "Now's The Time," "Speak Low," and "Summertime." ~ Michael P.Gladstone  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17758#.Uovjn-Jc_vs

Personnel: Bradley Leighton, alto flute; Rob Whitlock, Hammond B3 organ; Duncan Moore,drums; Bob Boss, guitar; Allan Phillips, percussion and keyboard

Just Doin' Our Thang

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